Samsung Canada National Education Challenge

Samsung Canada launches Solve for Tomorrow Education Challenge with $500,000 in Classroom Technology to be AwardedTwo grand prize winning schools in national education student challenge will also win a visit and epic lab experience from YouTube stars Mitch Moffit and Greg Brown of AsapSCIENCE

MISSISSAUGA, ON, September 23, 2015 – With Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills critical for careers of tomorrow, new research commissioned by Samsung Canada and led by The Learning Partnership confirmed that school leaders, teachers, parents/guardians and students across Canada are ready to embrace new technologies in the classroom. That’s why Samsung Electronics Canada today announced the launch of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge, a national educational challenge designed to inspire Canadian students to reach their full potential and get closer to STEM subjects by applying them to help better their communities.

Students in Grades 6 to 12 will be asked to identify an existing challenge or issue they see in their town, city or neighbourhood, and use STEM to passionately help solve it. Finalist schools will share in $500,000 in Samsung classroom technology.

“Together with our partners, Samsung is committed to continue to support public education in Canada through classroom technology, research and support,” said Mark Childs, Chief Brand Officer at Samsung Electronics Canada. “We hope the Solve for Tomorrow Challenge will help inspire students about the possibilities of STEM, encouraging them to reach their full potential and strengthen their communities. Plus, they’ll have the opportunity to win incredible technology and experiences for their school.”

Solve for Tomorrow Challenge partners include Canadian YouTube stars Mitch Moffit and Greg Brown of AsapSCIENCE. With a passion for science and education, Mitch and Greg started AsapSCIENCE as a community for people to learn and be entertained through a unique online educational content that highlights the neatest aspects of science. Samsung will host a live ‘Meet & Greet’ with Mitch and Greg during the first phase of the challenge; next spring, they will also visit two grand prize winning schools and their communities to learn about their winning student projects and feature them in an AsapTHOUGHT video. They’ll also host a special and unique STEM lab experience at the winning schools.

“We love STEM, and our goal with AsapSCIENCE was always to help others see how approachable, exciting and fun these topics can actually be,” said Mitch and Greg of AsapSCIENCE. “Working with Samsung Canada to inspire more students to stick with STEM education through the Solve for Tomorrow Challenge is a privilege.”

Along with AsapSCIENCE, the Solve for Tomorrow Challenge is supported by The Learning Partnership, a national charitable organization dedicated to advancing public education in Canada, and Let’s Talk Science, a charitable youth development organization which creates and delivers free STEM learning programs and services that support educators and strengthen student learning outcomes.

“Careers that demand STEM-based skills continue to grow across Canada, so we applaud Samsung Canada for providing youth with meaningful opportunities to build those critical skills through the Solve for Tomorrow Challenge,” said Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, President of Let’s Talk Science. “This challenge is very much in line with our own programs and we hope together to excite even more students about the possibilities of STEM.”

“We have a long history with Samsung Canada, and have seen their commitment to supporting public education in this country,” said Akela Peoples, President of The Learning Partnership. “Schools need technology and innovation support in the classroom, and they have demonstrated through their efforts over the years – from significant classroom technology grants, to research funding, to actively engaging with school leaders, teachers and parents – that they are truly here to help solve for tomorrow.”

Beginning today, schools are encouraged to enter the Solve for Tomorrow Challenge at solvefortomorrow.ca. The first phase of the Challenge, documenting the community issue and STEM-based solution, will close on November 30. Fifty-five finalist schools will then be selected in December to move on to the next phase, where they will implement their idea and capture the process in a video documentary using Samsung technology. One winner from each province and territory (11 in total) will win $20,000 in classroom technology and will go on to compete in the final phase in February 2016 for two grand prizes of $50,000 in classroom technology each plus live visits school from Mitch and Greg from AsapSCIENCE.

Samsung Electronics Canada inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances and printers. Samsung is a leader in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home initiatives. In 2014, Samsung was ranked one of the top 10 most influential brands in Canada, based on a study by Ipsos Reid. Committed to making a difference in communities across Canada, its Samsung Hope for Children corporate giving program supports children’s education, sustainability and health-related issues. Globally, Samsung employs 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of $196 billion.